2021 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 shooters teams should target

1. JJ Redick

Approximately a thousand days ago – okay, it was about three weeks – The Athletic reported that the New Orleans Pelicans were showing “openness” to discussing trades for Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick. Almost a month later, both remain with the franchise, with rumors remaining surrounding Redick.

There’s good reason for the interest in Ball. Despite not yet living up his father’s hype, he can still score, distribute, and serve as a decent playmaker. He’s also still young, just 23 years old.

Redick will be a hotter commodity on the trade market, though. He’s been one of the league’s elite shooters for a decade and a half and will gladly slide into that role for a new team if it means winning an elusive title.

Redick is not necessarily having his best shooting season. He has hit 35.9 percent of his threes – not terrible, but it would be the worst 3-point percentage of his career. This is the first time he hasn’t started a game in a season since 2007-08, so a trade might bring some necessary rejuvenation.

The 41.5 percent career sharpshooter is on a $13.1 million expiring contract. He’s also believed to have interest in the northeast region, which will instantly link him to the Celtics, Nets, and a former haunt, the Sixers.

A sleeper to keep an eye on is another northeast team, the New York Knicks. Despite being on the playoff fringe with little title hope, the Knicks already showed they’re willing to go for the postseason by trading for Rose. New York is shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range this season, so Redick would likely provide an instant boost in that category.